NCJ Number: 199204
Title: Looking Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring Variations Among Crack Smokers
Journal: Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume:34 Issue:4 Dated:October - December 2002 Pages:383-392
Author(s): Danielle German MPH; Claire E. Sterk Ph.D.
Date Published: October 2002
Annotation: Based on in-depth interviews with 22 (9 males and 13 females) active crack users in Atlanta, GA, this study examined any differences among these users.
Abstract: Data were collected between June 1997 and June 2000 by means of
ethnographic mapping. Study participants were recruited in
geographical areas known for crack use. In order to be eligible
for the study, participants were required to be 18 years old or
older and be current users of crack cocaine (defined as having
used at least once in the week prior to the interview). Based on
information obtained from the interviews, four types of crack
users were identified. These types were differentiated by use
frequency, protective factors (avoidance of harm related to drug
use), access to crack, and life structure. "Stable users" were
those who smoked crack occasionally and had many protective
factors in place. Their daily lives were highly structured, and
their access to crack was limited. "Tempted users" smoked crack
more often than the "stable users," and they faced the
possibility of chaotic use as a constant threat. All users in
this group referred to temptations to spend more money on crack
than they intended or could afford. They had their own
connections with dealers, owned their own paraphernalia, and had
developed their own use routines. "Grappling users" were
characterized by more chaos in their lives than the "stable" and
"tempted" users. They did not use crack regularly, but they had
few protective mechanisms. They tended to be socially isolated
with little external support to sustain strategies for avoiding
crack use. Crack use tended to be an escape for this group.
"Immersed users" were those who best fit the public stereotype of
crack users. Crack use tended to dominate their lives, and they
described crack as a drug that was impossible for them to
control. They had difficulty in spending time, energy, or
resources on anything other than crack. Since these findings
reveal crack users as a heterogeneous group, programs that aim to
address problems related to crack use should consider these
individual differences in the development of intervention and
treatment strategies. 1 table and 30 references
Main Term(s): Drug offender profiles
Index Term(s): Crack; Drug offenders; Drug use; Georgia (USA); Treatment offender matching
Grant Number: ROIDA09819; ROIDA10642
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
Publisher: http://www.journalofpsychoactivedrugs.com/
Page Count: 10
Format: Article
Type: Report (Study/Research)
Language: English
Country: United States of America
To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=199204
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